Reps query contractors over abandoned projects after 85% payment

The House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Ministry has taken a firm stance against contractors responsible for the incomplete skill acquisition center in Iwuo Achang, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Chairman Eugene Dibiagwu led the charge during an explosive investigative hearing, lambasting the contractors for their lack of commitment despite being paid a staggering 85% of the contract sum. “As a contractor paid up to 85 percent, the project should have been completed. We will not allow this project to die,” Dibiagwu asserted.

The inquiry revealed troubling details about the project, which has been abandoned since its initiation on March 15, 2010. Despite the hefty payment, the contractors left the site in disrepair, with parts of the fence crumbling and the facility vandalized.

Highlighting the economic challenges and the soaring cost of materials, Dibiagwu announced that an additional N2 billion is needed, pushing the total cost to a jaw-dropping N6.2 billion. However, even with this funding, doubts remain about the center’s functionality. “That center cannot train one person, even with N6.2 billion,” Dibiagwu lamented, emphasizing the need for fully equipped training workshops and personnel.

The committee demanded the contractors—Stegis International Agency Nigeria Ltd., Enarosol Nigeria Ltd., and Y.S. Associates—to present their contract agreements and performance certificates, hinting at possible further actions.

This investigation follows a motion passed on November 23, 2023, urging the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to ensure the project’s completion within the 2024 fiscal year. As the probe continues, the spotlight remains on the contractors, who now face intense scrutiny over their handling of the multimillion-naira project.